Remote sensor for determining proper placement of elevator slips

Abstract

An apparatus for installing pipe such as large diameter casing in a wellbore. Sensors are positioned at a predetermined location at or near the upper surface of elevators suspended from a rig traveling block. As elevators are lowered over a section of pipe, such sensors provide a signal indicating that the elevators are positioned a desired distance below the top of the pipe. The signal alerts an operator that elevators are positioned properly relative to a pipe body so that slips within the elevators will be properly engaged against the outer surface of the pipe and not a connection upset or large diameter external coupling.

Description

NoneSTATEMENTS AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENTNone1. Field of the InventionThe present invention relates to an apparatus for installing pipe in a wellbore, such as an oil or gas well. More particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus for determining when movable elevators in a drilling rig are properly positioned relative to a section of pipe to be installed in a wellbore. More particularly still, this invention relates to an apparatus which can provide a signal when elevators, and more specifically the slips of such elevators, are positioned at a desired location relative to a section of pipe to be installed in a wellbore and, conversely, when such elevators and slips are not so positioned. More particularly still, the present invention relates to an apparatus which can be used to prevent elevator slips from being closed when such elevator slips are improperly positioned relative to a section of pipe to be installed in a we...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

This pipe can be very heavy, especially when many joints of large diameter and / or heavy-wall casing are being run into a well.

If the pipe is not properly secured within such elevators, it is possible that the pipe could drop or fall out of the elevators, thereby causing damage to the rig or the well, or injury to rig personnel.

If such elevator slips are inadvertently closed against a coupling or connection upset, such slips likely will not fully contact or engage against the outer surface of the pipe.

As a result, slips (including elevator slips) which are not properly engaged against a pipe body may not grip such pipe securely.

If the slips do not grip the pipe securely, such slips may not be able to support the weight of the pipe string, and the pipe can fall out of the slips.

It is often very difficult for a driller or other operator situated on the rig floor to determine whether elevators are properly positioned relative to the top of a joint of pipe suspended in the derrick without some assistance from a derrick man or other device.

Second, in many instances, the driller's perspective makes such task difficult because he must look virtually straight up to see the position of elevators.

As a result, it is frequently difficult for someone standing at the rig floor to judge the actual position of the elevators relative to the pipe joint.

Furthermore, it is also often difficult for a derrick man to judge when elevators are properly positioned relative to a joint of pipe suspended in a derrick.

Even though the derrick man may be positioned on an elevated platform in the derrick, he still may not be close enough to the top of the pipe to accurately determine when the elevators have cleared the connection upset or external coupling.

Moreover, even if the derrick man can see when the elevators are properly positioned on said joint of pipe, there is always a risk of miscommunication between the derrick man and the driller, especially when shouts or hand signals are used.

FIG. 3 is a side view of slips which are improperly seated within a bowl, and therefore not fully engaged against a pipe body, due to alignment of the slips with an external pipe coupling.

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